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Bar De Marchi

My slender experiences in Italy lead me to believe that the word "bar" signals that a place serves coffee and snacks, and that it also happens to pour wine, beer and aperitifs.

This chill pub on Piazza San Francesco got my business today. It is gearing up for a big Liberation Day party coming up Thursday to celebrate the collapse of Fascist rule and the end of the Nazi occupation. Sounds like a simple victory lap in a neighborhood rife with antifa-friendly graffiti, but maybe not.

Takeaway alcohol sales have been banned on April 25 previously, so maybe things have gotten out of control, not sure. Motorists in the Pratello are warned that all traffic will be prohibited, and even bicyclists in the neighborhood are advised to vacate the racks. Don't know what that will accomplish or where they’re supposed to put their bikes.


On a sunny day, Bar De Marchi is a great place for a cold Pignoletto or a Campari spritz. If you order a birra, they’ll pour you a Dolimiti Pils made near Venice. Not really my cup of tea, but it’s a true-to-style pale lager and you could do worse. When the weather’s good, the place hops. I’ve seen trays of wine being carried to parents watching their kids in front of the church directly across the square. It’s got a homey, close-knit vibe, and you can take your drink out onto the sidewalk or wander around the piazza. Nobody cares.


A photo on the wall shows the San Francesco Church in 1945 after being bombed by the Allies, probably the year before. Not surprised because Bologna got hit hard in World War II, but geez I had no idea the cathedral had this much rebuilding to do. I wonder how much war guilt there is in Italy; it’s not a subject you really want to bring up.


The day’s newspapers were lying around the bar, and they all looked terrific, the Rome daily La Repubblica in particular.  Latin newspapers, especially the ones in Italy, Mexico and Portugal, have some next-level design; I don't know why. Can’t vouch for the writing, but La Repubblica is a well-organized, thick product and costs only 1.50E. It seems to be doing OK. Apparently it puts out a lot of zoned editions because the Bologna cinema listings come first.

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